Discuss:
- This short story is an allegory and a social criticism of how freed slaves were treated in the years after the American Civil War. Explain which segments in society the father, the boy, and the dog represent.
- Describe the relationship between the dog and the boy. How does it develop throughout the story?
- The boy is often good to the dog but can all of a sudden change character and beat him. What do these sudden changes of behaviour say about the boy and about the segment of society that he represents? How does the dog react to these changes, and why does he react this way?
- How does the father behave towards the boy, the dog, his wife, and the rest of the family?
- What does the dog's rope symbolise?
- What is the message of this short story? What is Stephen Crane trying to teach us?
Quotations:
Explain what the following quotes mean and how they relate to the story and to the society they describe.
- "A short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally he trod upon the end of it and stumbled."
- "The child beat his pursuer with a small stick he had found. The dog lay down and prayed until the child had finished, and resumed his journey. Then he scrambled erect and took up the pursuit again."
- "...the child suddenly saw him to be a valuable thing. He made a swift, avaricious charge and seized the rope."
- "When the child's family appeared, they made a great row. The dog was examined and commented upon and called names. Scorn was leveled at him from all eyes, so that he became much embarrassed and drooped like a scorched plant."
- "Sometimes, too, the child himself used to beat the dog, although it is not known that he ever had what could be truly called a just cause. The dog always accepted these thrashings with an air of admitted guilt."
Research:
In order to fully understand and appreciate the short story, you should learn more about the time period in question. This was a very decisive period for African Americans in the United States, and it defined their role in society for the next century.
Work together in groups. Use the internet and find information about the following historical events.
- The doctrine 'separate, but equal'
- Emancipation Proclamation
- Segregation
- Plessy v. Ferguson
- The Reconstruction era
- Jim Crow laws
Make a poster with a timeline and a clear description of each of the historical events.
Write:
- Write a character analysis of the dog, the boy, and the father. Explain how their characteristics and behaviours mirror certain groups in American society at the time.
Even though this short story was written over a century ago, Crane’s story also resonates with people today. How does our society treat minority groups and people who are different from the majority?
Choose one or two groups in society that you believe are oppressed or discriminated against. Write an opinion text where you discuss the challenges these groups are facing and possible solutions that you see.